SERVICE PERSON RESEARCH
SERVICE PERSON DETAILS
Service Person’s
Name
Rank
Service Number
Regiment/Unit or
Ship or Squadron
Darren James Smith
Sapper
8264024
2nd Combat Engineer Regiment
Date of Birth
26 November 1984
Place of Birth
Adelaide
Family Details
Age at Enlistment
Place of Enlistment
Graeme Smith – Father
Chavuanne and Crystal Smith - Sisters
Angela Smith – Wife
Mason Smith - Son
Army Reserve (Enlisted in 2001) at age 18
Transferred to regular Army in 2004, at age 22
Unknown
Date of Death
7 June 2010 (At age 26)
Place of Death
Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan
Cemetery or
Memorial Name
Grave or Memorial
Number
Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane
6ANZ. Ref: 1546
PHOTO:
1
2
3
1 Department of Defence Statement 2010, Sapper Darren James Smith
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/jun/20100608d/20100505adf8246638_089%20Cropp
ed.jpg (accessed 19 February 2015)
2 Department of Defence Statement 2010, Sapper Darren James Smith
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/jun/20100608d/20100505adf8246638_054%20croppe
d.jpg (accessed 19 February 2015)
3 Find a Grave 2013, Darren James Smith
http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2013/288/118795417_138191648143.jpg (accessed 17 February
2015)
SERVICE PERSON’S STORY/EULOGY:
Prepared by Jack Hill
Sapper Darren James Smith: One of the thousands of brave young men to put their lives on the line for the
Australian way of life, fighting against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. Darren had always dreamed of
serving his country, enlisting in the Army Reserve in 2001, and undergoing specialist minefield clearing and
demolition training before moving to the Army proper in 2004, at age 22.
It was in Brisbane, when he was transferred to the 2nd Combat Engineers Regiment, that he was assigned to
work as an Explosive Detector Dog handler, and met Herbie. A two-year-old black-and-tan collie cross.
Darren and Herbie formed a deep bond, often seen between the dogs and their handlers. So strong was
their bond that Darren at one stage worked with Herbie for six weeks of intensive rehabilitation, to ensure
that he recovered fully from an accident that threated his ability to deploy to Afghanistan.
In 2010, Darren and Herbie travelled to Afghanistan with Mentoring Task Force 1. Their role formed part of
a greater strategy to deny the Taliban access to the Mirabad Valley, and they worked with other combat
engineer teams, sweeping ahead of infantry to clear IED’s. It was on one of these routine sweeps, on 7
January 2010, that Darren, Herbie and Sapper Jacob Moreland, were fatally injured, as an IED they were
investigating detonated in close proximity.
Herbie was killed instantly but Darren’s mates recall Darren’s last words being for his family; he wanted
them to know he loved them.
Today, Darren and Herbie are commemorated together on a memorial plaque in Tarin Kowt base,
Afghanistan, along with other brave dogs and their handlers who laid down their lives for the country they
loved, fighting together in the spirit of mateship that is so dear to our hearts.
Lest we forget.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Australian War Memorial 2010, Roll of Honour – Darren James Smith http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1662894/
(accessed 14 February 2015)
Australian War Memorial 2014, The Last Post ceremony commemorating the service of (8264024) Sapper Darren
Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Afghanistan http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PAFU2014/0548.01/ (accessed
17 February 2015)
Department of Defence Statement 2010, Sapper Darren James Smith
http://www.defence.gov.au/vale/spr_smith/spr_smith.htm (accessed 19 February 2015)
Find a Grave 2013, Darren James Smith http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=118795417
(accessed 17 February 2015)
\
SOURCES:
It is with deep regret the Australian Defence Force announces the death of
Sapper Darren Smith during operations in Afghanistan.
Sapper Smith died as a result of wounds sustained when an improvised
explosive device detonated on 7 June, 2010.
Sapper Smith, 26, was from the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer
Regiment.
Related: Image gallery | Fallen Mates Farewelled from Tarin Kowt
Biography - Sapper Darren James Smith
Sapper Smith's military career commenced as part of the Army Reserve
enlisting 29 November 2001 and completing recruit training in January 2002,
serving as part of 3rd Field Squadron, South Australia.
Sapper Smith went on to complete his Combat Engineer suite of courses in 2004 and
become part of the Australian Regular Army where he was posted to 1st Combat
Engineer Regiment (1CER), Darwin in October 2004. He has completed a number of
driver courses up to heavy vehicle and Armoured Personnel Carrier.
While at 1 CER, he successfully completed his
Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) Handler course in
December 2006.
Sapper Smith was posted to 2 CER in January 2009.
He is Junior Leader Course qualified having completed
the course in November 2008.
His deployment as part of 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1) was his first
operational deployment. He deployed in March 2010. As part of his tour he has
been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp International
Campaign against Terrorism (ICAT), NATO Service Medal, and the Afghanistan
Campaign Medal. Sapper Smith has also been awarded the Australian Defence
Medal.
Sapper Smith leaves behind his wife Angela and a 2-1/2 yr old son Mason.
Sapper Smith’s wife and son live in Brisbane.
Sapper Smith was 26-years-old, born in Adelaide, South Australia.
Sapper Smith’s dog was Herbie, a 3-1/2 year old Collie Cross.
Statement from Mrs Angela Smith
"This is a very difficult time for us all as we struggle
to come to terms with Darren’s loss yesterday.
"Darren was a very loving husband and father, an
absolutely remarkable human being.
"He was very passionate about his job and understood
the risks involved but he was the sort of man who always put others first, and
did his best for them whether it was his mates in the Army or at home with his
family and friends.
"Darren had a special relationship with his working dog, Herbie.
"We would ask that you respect our privacy at this time."
Source: Department of Defence statement, as referenced above.
ID number
PAFU2014/054.01
Title
The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of
(8264024) Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer
Regiment, Afghanistan
Collection
Film
Object type
Last Post film
Maker
Australian War Memorial
Place made
Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Campbell
Date made
23 February 2014
Physical description
16:9
Video
Download video 65.72 MB
Note
Open
Copying provision
Copy provided for personal non-commercial use
Description
The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War
Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have
given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of
Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told.
Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (8264024) Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd
Combat Engineer Regiment, Afghanistan. The address is read by Major Patrick James Rawlins.
Speech text
8264024 Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment
KIA 7 June 2010
Photograph: Image supplied by Defence.
Story delivered 23 February 2014
Today we remember and pay tribute to Sapper Darren Smith and his Explosive Detection Dog,
Herbie. They were both killed in Afghanistan in 2010, along with Sapper Jacob Moreland.
Darren Smith was born in Adelaide in November 1984 and was the oldest of three children. Darren
excelled in sport and music: he enjoyed soccer, cricket, and Aussie Rules football at school, and
played guitar in the Wirreanda High School band. To his family, Darren was always active and funloving, sometimes cheeky, but always well-mannered. A loving son, he was also a devoted big
brother to his sisters Chavuanne and Crystal.
Darren always had an ambition to be a soldier. In 2001 he enlisted in the Army Reserve and
underwent basic training at Kapooka. Following this, Darren was posted to 3rd Field Squadron,
Royal Australian Engineers, at Warradale in South Australia, where he went on to complete his
training as a combat engineer -. a specialist in bridge-building, minefield clearance, and demolition,
amongst other things. In 2004, Darren transferred to the Regular Army and was posted to the 1st
Combat Engineer Regiment in Darwin. While there, he met Angela - the love of his life. They
married and had a son, Mason.
Darren transferred to the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment in Brisbane, where he developed a
passion for working with Explosive Detection Dogs. These dogs are trained to locate improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) and weapons caches. They and their handlers tend to form a strong bond described as both a partnership and mateship. As well as their work in the field, the effect of the
dogs on morale cannot be overestimated. Many soldiers say that the dogs also serve to remind them
of home.
Darren was paired with Herbie, a two-year-old black-and-tan collie cross. Herbie was originally
recruited from the Peninsula Animal Aid Facility, an animal rescue shelter at Redcliffe in
Queensland. With the possibility of a deployment to Afghanistan approaching, Darren and Herbie
trained for six months so they could serve side-by-side on deployment.
Darren's bond with Herbie was so strong that when Herbie suffered an injury that threatened to
prevent him accompanying Darren to Afghanistan, Darren worked with him in rehabilitation every
day for six weeks until Herbie was declared fit to deploy.
Darren and Herbie travelled to Afghanistan with Mentoring Task Force 1 in March 2010. Here they
conducted foot patrols out of Patrol Base Wali with Mentoring Team Alpha as part of a broader
strategy to deny the Taliban access to the Mirabad Valley. Combat engineers such as Darren and
Herbie regularly accompanied the infantry on their daily patrols, sweeping ahead to counter the
threat of IEDs.
On the morning of 7 June 2010 the team conducted a routine foot patrol with the intention of
disrupting the Taliban laying IEDs in and around the village of Sorkh Lez in the Mirabed Valley.
Herbie, Darren, and Sapper Jacob Moreland were investigating metal signature on the footpad of a
creek bed when an IED was triggered. The blast killed Herbie, and mortally wounded both Darren
and Jacob. According to those who were with him in his final moments, Darren's final words were
for his family, Angela and Mason. He wanted them to know that he loved them.
He was 25 years old when he died.
Darren's wife described him as "an absolutely remarkable human being. He was passionate about
his job and understood the risks involved, but he was the sort of
man who always put others first". Darren continues to be sorely missed by his family and friends.
Herbie was cremated in Afghanistan and farewelled by approximately 100 engineers and soldiers of
Mentoring Task Force 1 at Tarin Kot. His ashes were transported
back to Australia and presented to Angela in a small ceremony at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.
The 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment held a moment's silence to remember Herbie's service, and the
Australian Defence Force Trackers and War Dogs Association presented two service medals for
Herbie to both Angela and the regiment commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Carey.
Herbie and Darren are commemorated together on a polished metal board along with the names of
the four other dogs killed on service in Afghanistan - Merlin, Razz, Andy, and Nova. The board was
placed in a corner of the Australian recreation area in Tarin Kot that was known as Poppy's - so
named for Trooper David Poppy Pearce, killed in Afghanistan in 2007. At the unveiling ceremony,
a
large group gathered together - also present were 13 detection dogs and their handlers; including
Herbie's canine cobbers Harry, Bundy, and Tank.
Herbie's name is also listed on a memorial plaque at the Avenue of Honour in Yunguburra,
Queensland, and at the refuge where he was first recruited.
Darren and Herbie are pictured together in the photograph displayed today beside the Pool of
Reflection.
Darren's name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with the 39 other Australians who
were killed fighting in Afghanistan.
His is one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial.
We now remember Sapper Darren Smith and his Explosive Detection Dog Herbie, and all of those
Australians who have given their lives in service of the nation.
Source: AWM Ceremony, as referenced above.